This special milestone episode of Minds on the Mersey marks Episode 20 — a celebration of growth, graft, guests, and the community that’s carried the podcast from a small idea to a fully‑fledged platform for honest conversations about men’s mental health.

Sam and Richie kick things off with their usual chaos, laughter, and a bit of self‑roasting, before reflecting on how far the show has come. Across twenty episodes, they’ve hit 3,000+ streams, built a loyal following, partnered with three sponsors, and welcomed 22 incredible guests from all walks of life — from veterans and charity founders to football icons, podcasters, and people with powerful lived experiences. They revisit standout moments, favourite stories, unexpected lessons, and the guests who blew their minds, opened their hearts, or nearly set Richie on fire with hot sauce.

There’s plenty of classic MOTM humour too: broken chairs, blinding studio lights, ginger‑beard debates, and Sam’s heroic quest to build the new mindsonthemersey.com website — complete with merch, support resources, and every episode in one place.

Listeners also send in their Weekly Wins, from gym mishaps to reusable‑bag triumphs, proving that small victories matter just as much as the big ones.

Sam is then joined by Macaulay South, who talks about The Prevention Project CIC, gambling harm, recovery, and the reality behind an addiction that often hides in plain sight. Macaulay tells us all about his Crowdfunder and the reasons behind having to set it up.

In part two, the lads sit down with Max Ashken, who recently swam the English Channel solo in just over ten hours. Max shares the physical and mental battle behind the swim, the moment he nearly broke, how he trained for a year straight, and why he dedicated the challenge to his dad while raising over £20,000 for Mind. His story is raw, inspiring, and full of lessons about resilience, purpose, and pushing beyond what you think is possible.

This episode is a celebration — of the guests, the listeners, the growth, the graft, and the mission: breaking stigma, building connection, and keeping the conversation going.

Prevention Project CIC & Crowdfunder: https://www.thepreventionproject.co.uk/ https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-prevention-project

Max Ashken's Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/max-ashken-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

For full episode archives, guest links, support resources, merch, and more, visit https://www.mindsonthemersey.com. You’ll also find direct links to all our socials and a dedicated Contact Us section where you can reach out, share your story, or get involved with the podcast.

If you’re struggling, please reach out — help is always available 💛

In the UK, you can contact:

• Samaritans — free, 24/7 at 116 123

• Mind — mental health support via 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

• Shout — text 85258 for confidential crisis support

You are not alone. Talking saves lives. 💛